iOS 9 Compatibility & Supported Devices List

Apple is aiming to further improve and refine the iPhone and iPad experience with the release of iOS 9, and with many new features and enhancements, it’s sure to be a worthwhile system update for most users. Anytime a new version of system software is released though, users inevitably wonder if their devices will be able to run the next version, and that’s no different with iOS 9, but to answer answer that question we’re providing the full list of compatible devices.

To make things simple, if the iPhone or iPad is currently running either iOS 8 and iOS 7, or could be running either of those versions, then the same hardware can run iOS 9. Since many of us like to scan for their particular model iPhone or iPad, here is the complete iOS 9 supported devices compatibility list:

iPad Air

iPad Air 2

iPad Mini

iPad Mini 2

iPad Mini 3

iPad 4th generation

iPad 3rd generation

iPad 2

iPhone 6 Plus

iPhone 6

iPhone 5S

iPhone 5C

iPhone 5

iPhone 4S

iPod Touch 5th generation

The supported hardware list is directly from Apple, and was initially announced at WWDC during the iOS 9 unveiling. Apple also provides this handy compatibility chart (click to enlarge):

Do note that some features are only going to be available on the newer hardware. For example, some of the most exciting new multi-tasking features are limited to the iPad Air 2 or newer, and they won’t be included on older iPad models or any iPhone model at all. This will likely apply to some of the other iOS 9 features as well, though most seem to aim to be universal, and the improvements to battery life and performance should be felt and experienced all around. For those wondering, having certain features restricted to some particular devices is usually due to performance limitations, as the later iPad or iPhone models simply have faster processors and more hardware resources to devote to some features.

I talked to an Apple representative today. She said it is unknown if the new OS X will have 10 bit color support. I really would like to have this, for photography and video. I really don’t like the idea of having to buy a box from a third party just to achieve 10 bit color support, which should already be on a Macbook Pro (late 2013). Also, my iPhone 5’s wifi capabilities are terrible, and the battery life is terrible as well. I did all kinds of troubleshooting for wifi, really hard to solve. Anyways, I am hoping the new OS X and IOS are legit!

I am more concerned about what will break or what I will lose to performance or time lost troubleshooting in another mess of a system update for iOS or OS X than what I will gain in any new feature. Who has time for all that stuff? We bought this gear, with a lot of money, so it would ‘just work’. Hope this just works, but I will sit on the sidelines and wait until other people jump aboard first, I learned my lesson with software updates!

Thanks, this is exactly what I wanted to know. I’m debating joining the Public Beta for iOS, though I definitely am for Mac OS X El Cap because Yosemite is the worst, but iOS 8 runs OK on my iPhone, so maybe not there… decisions. I’ll probably buy a new iPhone this year anyway if it comes with a new camera, hoping for 12MP!

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